Interviews

Sony's Eric Lempel Talks PS3 Version 2.4

We rope in the PSN Director of Operations for a quick Q&A on the new update.

Earlier today, Sony unveiled the release date and other information regarding PlayStation 3 firmware update 2.4, which will implement in-game XMB access and the trophy system, the PS3's answer to Xbox 360's achievements. Since our news article was published a few hours ago, we were able to speak with PlayStation Network's Director of Operations, Eric Lempel, in a brief phone interview to get a little more information about what we can expect in this Wednesday's update.

XMB: Not Just For T-Shirts

GameSpy: We saw in the video that you pulled up messages in-game. Will gamers also be able to initiate voice chat with buddies as they play?

Eric Lempel, Director of Operations, PSN: No, they won't be able to yet. This is phase one of our project, and we'll be rolling out even bigger plans for the future.

GameSpy: Will in-game XMB be compatible with PS2 and PS1 games?

Lempel: Not yet. Gamers wanted it for PS3 first, so we want to ensure that we cover PS3 titles first and foremost.

As you can see, buddy list information will be available at all times.

GameSpy: Are custom soundtracks restricted to music on the hard drive, or can players stream music from their PCs?

Lempel: It's only music stored on the console's hard drive.

GameSpy: Are there future plans to implement an automated pause in the game to access the XMB?

Lempel: Some games will do that, but others won't. It's not really our decision to make, as much as it's a developer's choice.

GameSpy: Would developers be able to incorporate such a thing into a patch down the line?

Lempel: It's definitely possible.

No, Avatar's Not Coming to PS3.

GameSpy: Is there an official list of available games slated to patch with trophies on or around Wednesday beyond Super Stardust HD, PAIN, Warhawk, and PixelJunk Eden?

Lempel: The only game that will officially be patched on the day of the firmware update is Super Stardust HD. The other games announced on the PlayStation blog will eventually update. We can officially confirm that besides the titles we've already announced, Uncharted: Drake's Fortune will also receive a patch at some point in the foreseeable future.